Visually modeling screen-flows in component-oriented web-based system

ABSTRACT

A method includes selecting portal resources of a portal system within a graphical modeling tool. Data fields of the selected portal resources are mapped to each other using the graphical modeling tool to generate an execution flow path of the selected portal resources. The execution flow path is stored as a portal resource in the portal system.

FOREIGN PRIORITY

This application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent ApplicationNo. 1320454.0, filed 20 Nov. 2013, and all the benefits accruingtherefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the contents of which in its entiretyare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments relate generally to a method for visually modelingscreen-flows. Embodiments relate further to a portal applicationdevelopment system, a computing system, a data processing program, and acomputer program product.

Customers often have to implement portal/portlet based solutions thatguide users through a well-defined sequence of screens. These sequencesroute users along paths which interconnect user interface (UI) artifacts(forms, masks, etc.) that, altogether, allow them to easily accomplishparticular tasks. From a user perspective, stepping through suchsequences feels like navigating with wizards. It relieves users fromthinking about the right order of navigation and processing of screens.

The need for such solutions arises across all vertical industries. E.g.,in the insurance sector, screen-flow modelers might need to model flowsfor processing policy quotes or claim submissions. In particular,quoting a vehicle insurance policy may be comprised of steps likevehicle selection, vehicle data specification, insurance datacollection, tariff characteristics selection, and so forth. Similarapplications can be thought of when thinking of banking, help desks, ortravel booking applications.

When developing portal based solutions, screens (in other wordsfunctions) are usually provided by portlets. But the mapping ofindividual screens to portlets is often not trivial since it has impacton both user experience as well as reusability.

Users have typically had to pick between two extremes. On the one hand,they can decide to let one single portlet provide all necessary screens(and thus, the entire set of functions needed to accomplish a particulartask). On the other hand, they can decide to develop one dedicatedportlet for each of these screens and thus, for each single functionrequired to accomplish a particular task. The “one portlet fits all”approach implies developing one single monolithic application which is,due to its complexity, hard to maintain, poorly scalable and, due to itsnon-modular character, difficult to reuse. However, this approachprovides developers and screen-flow modelers with the highest controlfor guiding users through the flow. In contrast, the “one portlet perscreen”-approach offers much higher flexibility and increases optionsfor reusability tremendously. Hence, guiding users becomes less strictand less controllable which may increase the danger of erroneousnavigation. Hence, either developers have to “hard-wire” portlets whichmay reduce flexibility or, users have to find out about the intendedflow which may increase the risk for incorrect usage. In general, thereis no single right answer for the “right” granularity which often leadsto time consuming discussions and decisions depending on the actualscenario to be implemented.

There are several approaches for developing portal based workflows.Document US 2013/0152021 A1 discloses a method for providing workflowstages and integrated workflow stage visualization including displayinga detailed view of a workflow. The workflow may include a plurality ofcustomizable stages. At least a first workflow stage is configured tocontain a plurality of customizable workflow components and displayingthem in a detailed view. Then, a selection of a stage view within theworkflow may be received.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 8,271,541 B2 discloses a method for developingcomposite applications. A model architecture component can model abusiness rule utilizing at least one node in a hierarchical structure. Aruntime engine can automatically create a complex, long runningcomposite application based at least in part upon the hierarchical nodestructure such that the representative process segments of theapplication are involved by the business rule.

SUMMARY

Embodiments relate to methods, systems, computer program products, orapparatuses for visually modeling screen-flows.

According to an embodiment, a method includes selecting portal resourcesof a portal system within a graphical modeling tool. Data fields of theselected portal resources are mapped to each other using the graphicalmodeling tool to generate an execution flow path of the selected portalresources. The execution flow path is stored as a portal resource in theportal system.

According to another embodiment, a system includes a processing unit anda memory. The system is configured to select portal resources of aportal system within a graphical modeling tool. Data fields of theselected portal resources are mapped to each other using the graphicalmodeling tool to generate an execution flow path of the selected portalresources. The execution flow path is stored as a portal resource in theportal system.

According to another embodiment, a computer program product includes acomputer readable storage medium having program instructions embodiedtherewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitorysignal per se and the program instructions are executable by a processorto cause the processor to perform a method. The method includesselecting portal resources of a portal system within a graphicalmodeling tool. Data fields of the selected portal resources are mappedto each other using the graphical modeling tool to generate an executionflow path of the selected portal resources. The execution flow path isstored as a portal resource in the portal system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, and with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an overview block diagram of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a screen layout with a graphical modelingtool and portal resources;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of how portal resources are collected in thedefined collection mode area;

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of how portal resources are collected inthe defined collection mode area;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of how icons and a search function may beintegrated into the user interface;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a layout and function of the assemblymode;

FIG. 7 shows the first part of a detailed block diagram of anembodiment;

FIG. 8 shows the second part of a detailed block diagram of anembodiment;

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer systemincluding the portal application development system; and

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a portal system withelements of the proposed expansion regarding visually modelingscreen-flows in a component-oriented Web-based system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the context of this description, the following conventions, termsand/or expressions may be used:

It may be noted that “side-by-side” may be an expression meaning “on thesame screen” or in the same window. It may say nothing about the layoutof the screen. One window or portlet may be above another one. However,side-by-side may express more a time-wise dependency. A user mayrecognize both elements displayed side-by-side at the same time. Theuser may also use the elements without limitations.

It may be noted that the immediate use, usability or, execute-ability ofan execution flow path of portal resources may apply to theadministrative user who may still be using the portal applicationdevelopment system or, any other user having access to the port ofsystem.

“Providing access to the portal resources” may mean that anadministrator user may have access to data components or resources, inparticular portal resources. This may apply directly to all portalresources of the Web navigational user interface.

The term “visually modeling screen-flows” may denote the capability ofediting a sequence of different views of portal resources rendered in aportal of a portal system. Different views may be chained into anexecution flow path. Such an editing may be supported electronicallysuch that the different screens may be visible and manipulative usinggraphical tools.

The term “portal resources” may denote any displayable content, inputform or, displayable computing result. The resources may typically behandled as portlets of a portal system. The data for content to bedisplayed in a portal may originate from any application or data source.Besides portlets, also complete portal pages may be treated as aresource. Portlets may be seen as pluggable user interface softwarecomponents which are managed and displayed in a Web portal. The portletsmay produce fragments of mark-up language code—e.g., HTML, XHTML,WMF—which may be aggregated into a portal system. A portal page may bedisplayed as a collection of non-overlapping portlet windows displayedas portlets.

The term “portal system” may denote a plurality of components allowing auser to navigate in a graphical user interface by a pointing device, amanagement of portal pages and portlets, and in particular, a back-endadministration system to manage pages, content, screen-flows, accesscontrol as well as a database to store related information items.

The term “execution flow path” may denote a sequence of displayed and/ornavigable views within a portal system. The sequence may be predefined.

The term “portal page” may denote the completeness of informationwindows displayed within a portal system user interface.

The term “portlet” may denote a pluggable user interface softwarecomponent which may be managed and displayed in a Web portal which hasalready been defined above in the context of portal resources.

The term “connectable” may denote the feature to link original separateviews or screens into a linked or connected flow of the different viewsor portal resources. Thus, if portal resources may be connected to eachother in an execution flow path they may be accessible one after theother automatically in the right sequence.

The term “graphical modeling tool” may denote—in this context—acomponent of a graphical user interface allowing developing an executionflow path combining a plurality of portal resources.

The term “Web navigational user interface” may denote the generalconcept of a Web browser. It may allow users to navigate within adisplayed Web page using a pointing device, wherein in the displayed Webpage may comprise the rendered output of a portal (back-end) system.

The term “portal resources to be collected” may denote portal resourceswhich may be eligible to be connected in an execution flow path. Theportal resources to be collected may be visible within the Webnavigational user interface. Consequently, they may be selectable usingthe pointing device. This may be a prerequisite to manage the portalresources with a drag-and-drop functionality. Thereby, the drag-and-dropfunctionality may comprise a pointing device gesture in which a user mayselects a virtual object by “grabbing” it and dragging it to a differentlocation or onto another virtual object.

Embodiments for visually modeling screen-flows and the related systemmay offer a couple of advantages:

Using a tool related to the proposed method, a developer, e.g., anadministrator user may stay within active portal resources whendeveloping a portal application. I.e., he may have full access to allresources of a given portal and may, in addition, have access to one ormore portlet development tools for combining innovatively the portalresources—i.e., portal pages and/or portlets—into a new execution flowpath of portal resources. This means that the administrator user maynavigate through existing portals and portlets while at the same timehaving access to a portal development tool. No special developmentenvironment, separate to the available portal resources, may have to belaunched.

Traditional Web development environments typically require a specialdevelopment view onto the available resources. In such a mode,navigation within and between the portal resources may not be possible.Thus, in such a traditional mode there may be a disconnection betweenthe available resources during development time.

In contrast to this, embodiments may allow an in-line development,wherein both, the developmental environment and the portal resources maybe accessible and fully navigable. Thus, the administrator user may havefull control of all portal resources in a user mode also duringdevelopment time.

At the end of a development cycle, an execution flow path may beavailable for immediate use by the administrator user for an immediatetest. This way, the administrator user may not have to leave thedevelopmental environment for a test of the developed portalapplication. Alternatively, the execution flow path may also immediatelybe available for a test user or regular user. This way, prototyping ofnew Web applications may be more productive if compared to thetraditional method.

According to one embodiment, the last navigated resource which has beenactivated before the graphical modeling tool may have been activated,may continue to stay active. This way, the graphical modeling tool fordeveloping new Web applications, i.e., a new execution flow path, andthe available resources, i.e., portal pages and/or portlets, may beactive at the same time with full control by the administrator user.

Further embodiments may comprise providing search functionality in anadministrator selection user interface for portal resources. Thisfeature may allow searching for specific portal pages or portlets withinthe pool of available resources. This way, it may not be required tosearch manually for specific resources. The speed of development may beincreased.

According to an additional embodiment, icons of portal resources may beselectable within the administrator selection user interface. They mayalso be draggable into the defined collation mode area. Using thisfeature, an administrator user or developer may not be required tonavigate through all available resources for developing a new Webapplication. Instead, he may only pick and choose—i.e.,drag-and-drop—available portal resources into the defined collectionmode area. Again, this may speed up the development process.

According to an embodiment, beside the search functionality and theicons of portal resources also the last navigated resource, which mayhave been activated by the administrator user, may continue to stayactive. This may happen in parallel and side-by-side to an activation ofthe graphical modeling tool side by side with the defined collectionmode area. Thus, the active resource(s) as well as the graphicalmodeling tool, i.e., the collection mode, may be active on the samescreen, i.e., the same Web navigational user interface. Thus, anadministrator user may have full control of all resources and relatedapplications in addition to the portal application development systembecause also the portal application development system may be treated asa resource within the same portal system.

This means that a navigation and interaction with the portal resourcesmay continue to be activated even if the graphical modeling tool hasbeen activated. Thus, new portal applications may be developed veryintuitively and in short time frames.

According to one embodiment, the mapping of selected data fields of theselected and connected portal resources may be performed using thedrag-and-drop functionality. This way, variables which a user may havetyped in a portal or portlet form may be transferable from one portletto another portlet, i.e., from output fields to input fields. Thedragging and dropping of related fields of different and/or successiveportlets may enhance the development speed of new Web applications.Automatic data field format tests may be included in this drag-and-dropfunctionality in order to avoid format mismatches. This may be anadditional guiding help for the administrator user.

Furthermore, embodiments may take the form of a computer programproduct, accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use, by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purpose of this description, acomputer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any apparatus thatmay contain means for storing, communicating, propagating ortransporting the program for use, by or in a connection with theinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

The medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared or a semi-conductor system for a propagation medium. Examplesof a computer-readable medium may include a semi-conductor or solidstate memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk andan optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compactdisk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W), DVDand Blu-Ray-Disk.

It should also be noted that embodiments of the invention have beendescribed with reference to different subject-matters. In particular,some embodiments have been described with reference to method typeclaims whereas other embodiments have been described with reference toapparatus type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gatherfrom the above and the following description that, unless otherwisenotified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to onetype of subject-matter, also any combination between features relatingto different subject-matters, in particular, between features of themethod type claims, and features of the apparatus type claims, isconsidered as to be disclosed within this document.

In the following, a detailed description of the figures will be given.All instructions in the figures are schematic. Firstly, a block diagramand handling diagrams of an embodiment of a method for visually modelingscreen-flows is given. Afterwards, further embodiments of the portalapplication development system will be described.

FIG. 1 shows an overview block diagram of an embodiment of a method 100for visually modeling screen-flows by connecting portal resources 212 ofa portal system 1000 for creating an execution flow path for immediateuse, in particular, during runtime of the portal system 1000 by a user.

The portal resources 212 are portal pages 1016 and portlets 1018, whichare selectively connectable using a graphical modeling tool 206. Thegraphical modeling tool 206 is driven by a graphical modeling toolmodule 1006 and is integrated as one of the portal resources 212 andaccessible via a related Web navigational user interface 200 of theportal system 1000. The method 100 comprises activating, 102, thegraphical modeling tool 206 resulting in a collection mode of the Webnavigational user interface 200 which is characterized by providing,104, a defined collection mode area 204 within the Web navigational userinterface 200, side by side with the portal resources 212, to becollected. This means that the defined collection mode area may berendered together with the last page the administrator user hasnavigated to and/or will be navigating successively in the portal system1000. The collection mode may stay active independently of whereto theadministrator user navigates.

The method 100 may also comprise providing, 106, access to the portalresources 212, in particular to its data, meta data and/or components,i.e., resources, within the Web navigational user interface 200.

There may also be a providing, 108, a drag-and-drop functionality withinthe Web navigational user interface 200 and a selecting, 110, portalresources 212 within the Web navigational user interface 200 to beconnected. For this, the drag-functionality may be used and the selectedportal resources 212 may then be dropped into the defined collectionmode area 204 of the Web navigational user interface 200 using thedrop-functionality.

The method 100 may also allow a switching, 112, into an assembly mode ofthe Web navigational user interface 200, which may be characterized byproviding, 114, an assembly mode area 600, and providing, 116, aconnection user interface 630. The selected portal resources 610, . . ., 624 may be connectable selectively using the connection user interface630, and data fields of the selected and connected portal resources 610,. . . , 624 may be selectively mapped to each other for an immediatelife navigation using a mapping user interface.

This mapping may either be performed by directly typed names oridentifiers of corresponding fields of related, chained portal resources610, . . . , 624 into an input field or, alternatively, by draggingsource data fields of a portal page to an input data field of asuccessive portal page. The mapping may also be performed supported bymetadata in that fields with identical metadata may be mappedautomatically to each other.

This way, an execution flow path 1038 of the connected portal resources610, . . . , 624 may be created, which may then be stored, 118, as a newportal resource 212 in the portal system 1000 for immediate use byeither the administrator user for a direct test, by a tester or, by anormal user. Prototyping may become much more productive this way. Andthe prototypes may be transformed into a productive mode immediately.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a screen layout with a graphical modelingtool and portal resources. A Web navigational user interface 200 maycomprise navigational arrows (as shown on the top left side) and aninput field 202 for a Web address, here, e.g.,http://www.ibm.com/projects/screenflow-mgmt. In the bottom area of theWeb navigational user interface 200 is a “normal” application (in thesense of an end user application and not a development tool) displayed.As an example, traveler flight, hotel, and car booking systems are used.Also different portal resources 212 in the form of portlets are shown.Moreover, application links 210 may be displayed as part of the bookingsystems.

In the top half of the Web navigational user interface 200 the graphicalmodeling tool 206 screen area may be displayed. It may comprise a toolbar 208 and the defined collection mode area 204. The graphic in themodeling tool 206 screen area may be resized as appropriate.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of how portal resources 212 are collected inthe defined collection mode area 204. The graphical representation ofthe modeling tool screen area 206 may comprise one or more lanes 302into which portal resources 212 or application links 210 may be draggedand dropped as illustrated by the arrows 304 and 306.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of how portal resources 212 arecollected in the defined collection mode area 204. In this case, thesecond lane 302 besides the one already shown in FIG. 3 may compriseadditional portal resources. Here, “flight bookings” and the “flightbooking portal 2” are dragged and dropped from the bottom area of theWeb navigational user interface 200 in the defined collection mode area204 of the Web navigational user interface 200. This is shown by arrows402 and 404.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of how icons 508 and a search function 502may be integrated into the Web navigational user interface 200. In thisview, not the complete portlets as shown in the previous figures aredisplayed, but only icons 508 of these portlets in the area 500. Theymay be filtered by different menu functions 504 for “all portletresources”, 506 for “administrative portlets” or, 507 for “collaborativeportlets”, and so on. The view may not be as interactive as the firstlydescribed version and may be better suited to both for a professionalWeb application developer. However, the proposed method may allow bothmodes of operation.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a layout and function of the assemblymode. Different lanes 302 are shown side-by-side in the portal. Portalresources 212 may no longer be visible. Instead, a connection userinterface 630 together with a related tool bar 208 is shown. Includedinto the lanes 302 are already selected portal resources 610, . . . ,624. Reference numerals 610, 614, 618, and 622 may denote one of theapplication links 210 as introduced in FIG. 2. Reference numerals 612,616, 620, 624 may denote related portlets. Using the connection userinterface 630, portlets 612 may be linked to application 614 as shown byan arrow 602. Similarly, displayed portal resources 616 and618—connected by an arrow 604—as well as 620 and 622—connected by arrow606—may be linked or chained within the assembly mode area 600. In thisview, also the application links 210 may be included.

This way, different portal resources of different and separate portalapplications may be linked together within a graphical user interfaceproviding an elegant and intuitive way to chain originally separatedapplications or application components into a new screen-flow orexecution flow path.

FIG. 7 shows the first part of a detailed block diagram 700 of anembodiment of a method. 702, an administrator user may navigate into aportal user interface, i.e., the Web navigational user interface 200.Then, 704, the administrator user may decide to create a newscreen-flow. The administrator user may enable, 706, the collection modeof the screen-flow modeler. At 708, the portal system may insert thescreen-flow portlet into the current navigation view. The portal system1000 may continue to provide, 710, live access to portal resources thatare available in the portal system for a screen-flow assembly, asdiscussed in the context of FIGS. 2 to 6. At 712, the administrator userkeeps on navigating through the Web navigational user interface as hewould have done without the screen-flow modeler. In parallel, 714, theadministrator user and may add the desired portal resources 212, i.e.,portlets and pages to the lanes of the screen-flow modeler viadrag-and-drop. This may be a recursive process. Afterwards, theadministrator user may switch the portal application development system,shown as a computer 900 in FIG. 9, into the screen-flow assembly mode,716.

FIG. 8 shows the second part of a detailed block diagram 700 of anembodiment of a method. At 802, the administrator user may decide that atransition between resources 610, . . . , 624, as discussed in thecontext of FIG. 6, may be performed. The screen-flow modeler may detect,804, available configuration options based on the life data and metadataavailable through the portal system. This may, e.g., be applicable forinput and output fields of a specific portal resource pair. At 806, thescreen-flow modeler may display an input dialog to allow a configurationof the current transition including input and output fields of portlets1016. A mapping of output fields to input fields of successive portlets1016 or portal resources 212 may be performed by a drag-and-dropfunctionality. At 808, the administrator user may decide to save thecurrent transition from one portlet to another, at which point, thescreen-flow modeler may persist the transition in form of a portion ofan execution flow path 1038 which may become active immediately for use,810. After the complete execution flow path 1038 may have been created,the administrator user may decide to save the complete screen-flow orexecution flow path 1038 he just assembled, 812. At 814, the screen-flowmay store the complete definition of the screen-flow in the portal datastore 1016.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a portal system 1000 with elements ofthe proposed expansion regarding visually modeling screen-flows in acomponent-oriented Web-based system.

A traditional portal system 1000 may comprise a driver 1002 for a Webnavigation user interface 200 module, portal pages 1016, portlets 1018with communication endpoints 1020, a modeler API 1014 (applicationprogramming interface) and, some administration components 1022. Thesemay comprise a page management component 1024, a deployment module 1026,a content management module 1028, an access control component 1030 and ascreen-flow administration module 1032. Additionally, the portal system1000 may comprise a portlet data store 1034 and an execution flow pathdata store 1036 in which individual screen-flows or execution flow path1038 may be stored.

Also shown in FIG. 10 is an extension to the traditional portal systembuilding a portal application development system 920. It may comprise agraphical modeling tool module 1006. It may comprise a couple ofadditional modules: a drag-and-drop module 1008 may be adapted forselecting portal resources 212, 610, . . . , 624, e.g., portlets 1018 orportal pages 1016 or data fields of portlets. The drag-and-drop module1008 may also be adapted together with a collection user interfacemodule 1010 to move portal resources 212 into the defined collectionmode area 204, represented by reference numeral 1004 in FIG. 10, or toconnect selected portal resources 610, . . . , 624 within the assemblymode area 600. The same drag-and-drop module 1008 may be used forselectively mapping input and output fields of portlets 1018 whenconnected to them.

A connection user interface module 1012 may be adapted for connectingselected portal resources 610, . . . , 624, as described above. Thismodule may also be supported by the drag-and-drop module 1008. Theassembled and connected screen-flow of execution flow path 1038 may bestored in the execution flow path data store 1036. This may also beperformed by the screen-flow connection user interface module 1012 asshown in FIG. 10 by arrow 1040.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented together with virtuallyany type of computer, regardless of the platform being suitable forstoring and/or executing program code. For example, as shown in FIG. 9,a computing system may be a computer 900 including one or moreprocessor(s) 902 with one or more cores per processor, associated memoryelements 504, an internal storage device 506 (e.g., a hard disk, anoptical drive, such as a compact disk drive or digital video disk (DVD)drive, a flash memory stick, a solid-state disk, etc.), and numerousother elements and functionalities, typical of today's computers (notshown). The memory elements 904 may include a main memory, e.g., arandom access memory (RAM), employed during actual execution of theprogram code, and a cache memory, which may provide temporary storage ofat least some program code and/or data in order to reduce the number oftimes, code and/or data must be retrieved from a long-term storagemedium or external bulk storage 916 for an execution. A disk 906 may bedesignated for longer-term storage, such as a non-volatile memory disk.Elements inside the computer 900 may be linked together by means of abus system 918 with corresponding adapters. Additionally, the portalapplication development system 920 may be attached to the bus system918. Storage elements of the portal system—e.g., 1034, 1036—and thecomputing system may be shared.

The computer 900 may also include input means, such as a keyboard 908, apointing device such as a mouse 910, or a microphone (not shown).Alternatively, the computing system may be equipped with a touchsensitive screen as main input device. Furthermore, the computer 900,may include output means, such as a monitor or screen 912 [e.g., aliquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, a light emitting diodedisplay (LED), or cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor]. The computer 900 maybe connected to a network (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide areanetwork (WAN), such as the Internet or any other similar type ofnetwork, including wireless networks via a network interface connection914. This may allow a coupling to other computer systems or a storagenetwork or a tape drive. Those, skilled in the art will appreciate thatmany different types of computer systems exist, and the aforementionedinput and output means may take other forms. Generally speaking, thecomputer 900 may include at least the minimal processing, input and/oroutput means, necessary to practice embodiments of the invention.

Embodiments relate to methods, systems, computer program products, orapparatuses for visually modeling screen-flows.

According to one aspect, a method for visually modeling screen-flows isperformed by connecting portal resources of a portal system for creatingan execution flow path for immediate use. The method includes activatinga graphical modeling tool to activate a collection mode of a Webnavigational user interface. The graphical modeling tool is integratedas one of the portal resources and accessible via a related Webnavigational user interface of the portal system. The collection modeincludes a defined collection mode area within the Web navigational userinterface side by side with the portal resources to-be-collected. Theportal resources include portal pages and portlets, and the portalresources are connectable selectively using the graphical modeling tool.The collection mode provides access to the portal resources within theWeb navigational user interface, and the collection mode providesdrag-and-drop functionality. The method includes selecting portalresources within the Web navigational user interface. The portalresources to-be-collected are selected using the drag-and-dropfunctionality by dragging the portal resources and dropping the portalresources into the defined collection mode area of the Web navigationaluser interface. The method includes switching into an assembly mode ofthe Web navigational user interface. The assembly mode is characterizedby providing an assembly mode area and providing a connection userinterface. The selected portal resources are connectable selectivelyusing the connection user interface. The data fields of the selected andconnected portal resources are selectively mapped to each other for animmediate navigation, using a mapping user interface resulting in anexecution flow path of the connected portal resources. The methodfurther includes storing the execution flow path as a portal resource inthe portal system for immediate use.

According to another aspect, a portal application development systemincludes memory and a processor for visually modeling screen-flows byconnecting portal resources of a portal system for creating an executionflow path for immediate use. The system includes an activation unitadapted for activating a graphical modeling tool module driving agraphical modeling tool, in response to an activation signal, resultingin a collection mode of a Web navigational user interface. Thecollection mode is configured to provide a defined collection mode areawithin the Web navigational user interface side by side with portalresources to be collected. The portal resources are portal pages andportlets, and the portal resources are connectable by means of using agraphical modeling tool. The graphical modeling tool is integrated asone of the portal resources and is accessible via a related Webnavigational user interface driven by user interface module of theportal system. The collection mode is further configured to provideaccess to the portal resources within the Web navigational userinterface. The system includes a drag-and-drop module for selectingportal resources within the Web navigational user interface. The portalresources to be collected using a drag functionality of thedrag-and-drop module and adapted for dropping them into the definedcollection mode area of the Web navigational user interface using adrop-functionality of the drag-and-drop module. The system includes acollection user interface module adapted for collecting selected portalresources in the defined collection mode area. The system includes aswitching unit adapted for switching the graphical modeling tool module,in response to an assembly mode switching signal, into an assembly modefor the Web navigational user interface. The system includes aconnection user interface module. The selected portal resources areconnected by means of the connection user interface module within anassembly mode area. The data fields of the selected and connected portalresources are selectively mapped to each other for an immediate lifenavigation using a mapping user interface module resulting in anexecution flow path of the connected portal resources. The systemincludes a storage module adapted for storing the execution flow path asa portal resource in the portal system for immediate use.

According to another aspect, a computer program product for visuallymodeling screen-flows by connecting portal resources of a portal systemfor creating an execution flow path for immediate use includes acomputer readable storage medium having program instructions embodiedtherewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitorysignal per se. The program instructions are executable by a processor tocause the processor to perform a method. The method includes activatinga graphical modeling tool to activate a collection mode of a Webnavigational user interface. The graphical modeling tool is integratedas one of the portal resources and accessible via a related Webnavigational user interface of the portal system. The collection modeincludes a defined collection mode area within the Web navigational userinterface side by side with the portal resources to-be-collected. Theportal resources include portal pages and portlets, and the portalresources are connectable selectively using the graphical modeling tool.The collection mode provides access to the portal resources within theWeb navigational user interface, and the collection mode providesdrag-and-drop functionality. The method includes selecting portalresources within the Web navigational user interface. The portalresources to-be-collected are selected using the drag-and-dropfunctionality by dragging the portal resources and dropping the portalresources into the defined collection mode area of the Web navigationaluser interface. The method includes switching into an assembly mode ofthe Web navigational user interface. The assembly mode is characterizedby providing an assembly mode area and providing a connection userinterface. The selected portal resources are connectable selectivelyusing the connection user interface. The data fields of the selected andconnected portal resources are selectively mapped to each other for animmediate life navigation, using a mapping user interface resulting inan execution flow path of the connected portal resources. The methodfurther includes storing the execution flow path as a portal resource inthe portal system for immediate use.

The portal application development system may also comprise a providingunit adapted for providing an assembly mode area and a connection userinterface module. The selected portal resources may be connected bymeans of the connection user interface module, wherein data fields ofthe selected and connected portal resources may be mapped selectively toeach other for an immediate life navigation using a mapping userinterface module resulting in an execution flow path of the connectedportal resources.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of thisdisclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised, whichdo not depart from the scope of the invention, as disclosed herein.Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by theattached claims. Also, elements described in association with differentembodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that referencesigns in the claims should not be construed as limiting elements.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may take theform of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that may contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that may communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects ofembodiments the present invention may be written in any combination ofone or more programming languages, including an object orientedprogramming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection may be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present disclosure are described with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. It will be understood that each block of theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, may beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that may direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions, whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions, which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture,functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems,methods and computer program products according to various embodimentsof the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the blockdiagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, whichcomprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in somealternative implementations, the functions discussed hereinabove mayoccur out of the disclosed order. For example, two functions taught insuccession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or thefunctions may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams, may beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform thespecified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to limit of the invention. As usedherein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or steps plus function elements in the claims below are intendedto include any structure, material, or act for performing the functionin combination with other claimed elements, as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the embodiments of the present invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description, but is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing a web navigational user interface of a portal system, wherein the web navigational user interface includes a graphical modeling tool for selecting portal resources; causing the web navigation user interface to display a first portal page of a plurality of portal pages in response to a first navigation by a user, wherein the first portal page includes a first set of portal resources; upon activation of the graphical modeling tool, causing the web navigational user interface to display a defined collection mode area in a top-half portion of the web navigational user interface and to display the first portal page in a bottom-half portion of the web navigational user interface, wherein the defined collection mode area is side by side with the portal resources to be collected, wherein the first portal page, having been actively displayed within the web navigational user interface prior to the activation of the graphical modeling tool, continues to stay actively displayed within the web navigation user interface after the activation of the graphical modeling tool, wherein the graphical modeling tool is activated via a selection by the user; receiving, via the graphical modeling tool, a first selection of portal resources of the portal system, wherein the first selection of the portal resources is based at least in part on dragging portal resources of the first set of portal resources from the bottom-half portion of the web navigational user interface and dropping the dragged portal resources into the defined collection mode area of the web navigational user interface; causing the web navigation user interface to display in the bottom-half portion a second portal page of the plurality of portal pages in response to a second navigation by the user, wherein the second portal page includes a second set of portal resources, wherein the first portal page and the second portal page are not displayed at the same time; receiving, via the graphical modeling tool, a second selection of portal resources of the portal system, wherein the second selection of the portal resources is based at least in part on dragging portal resources of the second set of portal resources from the bottom half portion the web navigational user interface and dropping the dragged portal resources into the defined collection mode area of the web navigational user interface in the top-half portion; mapping, via the graphical modeling tool, data fields of the first and second selected portal resources to each other using the graphical modeling tool to generate an execution flow path of the selected portal resources; and storing the execution flow path as a portal resource in the portal system.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of portal resources includes a first set of portlets and a link to the first portal page, and wherein the second set of portal resources includes a second set of portlets and a link to the second portal page.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collection mode area having been actively displayed before the first selection, continues to stay actively displayed during the first and second selection.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing search functionality in an administrator selection user interface for portal resources.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein in the administrator selection user interface icons of portal resources are selectable.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mapping is performed using a drag-and-drop functionality.
 7. A system comprising a display screen, a processor and a memory, the system configured to: provide a web navigational user interface of a portal system for selecting portal resources, wherein the web navigational user interface includes a graphical modeling tool for selecting portal resources; cause the web navigation user interface to display a first portal page of a plurality of portal pages in response to a first navigation by a user, wherein the first portal page includes a first set of portal resources; upon activation of the graphical modeling tool, cause the web navigational user interface to display a defined collection mode area in a top-half portion of the web navigational user interface and to display the first portal page in a bottom-half portion of the web navigational user interface, wherein the defined collection mode areas is side by side with the portal resources to be collected, wherein the first portal page, having been actively displayed within the web navigational user interface prior to the activation of the graphical modeling tool, continues to stay actively displayed within the web navigational user interface after the activation of the graphical modeling tool, wherein the graphical modeling tool is activated via a selection by the user; receive, via the graphical modeling tool, a first selection of portal resources of the portal system, wherein the first selection of the portal resources is based at least in part on dragging portal resources of the first set of portal resources from the bottom-half portion of the web navigational user interface and dropping the dragged portal resources into the defined collection mode area of the web navigational user; cause the web navigation user interface to display in the bottom-half portion a second portal page of the plurality of portal pages in response to a second navigation by the user, wherein the second portal page includes a second set of portal resources, wherein the first portal page and the second portal page are not displayed at the same time; map, via the graphical modeling tool, data fields of the first and second selected portal resources to each other using the graphical modeling tool to generate an execution flow path of the selected portal resources; and store the execution flow path as a portal resource in the portal system.
 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first set of portal resources includes a first set of portlets and a link to the first portal page, and wherein the second set of portal resources includes a second set of portlets and a link to the second portal page.
 9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the system is further configured to provide search functionality in an administrator selection user interface for portal resources.
 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein in the administrator selection user interface icons of portal resources are selectable.
 11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the collection mode area having been actively displayed before the first selection, continues to stay actively displayed during the first and second selection.
 12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the mapping is performed using a drag-and-drop functionality.
 13. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method, comprising: providing a web navigational user interface of a portal system, wherein the web navigational user interface includes a graphical modeling tool for selecting portal resources; causing the web navigation user interface to display a first portal page of a plurality of portal pages in response to a first navigation by a user, wherein the first portal page includes a first set of portal resources; upon activation of the graphical modeling tool, causing the web navigational user interface to display a defined collection mode area in a top-half portion of the web navigational user interface and to display the first portal page in a bottom-half portion of the web navigational user interface, wherein the defined collection mode area is side by side with the portal resources to be collected, wherein the first portal page, having been actively displayed within the web navigational user interface prior to the activation of the graphical modeling tool, continues to stay actively displayed within the web navigation user interface after the activation of the graphical modeling tool, wherein the graphical modeling tool is activated via a selection by the user; receiving, via the graphical modeling tool, a first selection of portal resources of the portal system, wherein the first selection of the portal resources is based at least in part on dragging portal resources of the first set of portal resources from the bottom-half portion of the web navigational user interface and dropping the dragged portal resources into the defined collection mode area of the web navigational user interface; causing the web navigation user interface to display in the bottom-half portion a second portal page of the plurality of portal pages in response to a second navigation by the user, wherein the second portal page includes a second set of portal resources, wherein the first portal page and the second portal page are not displayed at the same time; receiving, via the graphical modeling tool, a second selection of portal resources of the portal system, wherein the second selection of the portal resources is based at least in part on dragging portal resources of the second set of portal resources from the bottom half portion the web navigational user interface and dropping the dragged portal resources into the defined collection mode area of the web navigational user interface in the top-half portion; mapping, via the graphical modeling tool, data fields of the first and second selected portal resources to each other using the graphical modeling tool to generate an execution flow path of the selected portal resources; and storing the execution flow path as a portal resource in the portal system.
 14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the first set of portal resources includes a first set of portlets and a link to the first portal page, and wherein the second set of portal resources includes a second set of portlets and a link to the second portal page.
 15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the system is further configured to provide search functionality in an administrator selection user interface for portal resources. 